THREE people were killed and another was left fighting for life last night after a rally car crashed into spectators.

Earlier, five people were injured when another car struck them in the annual Jim Clark Rally in the Scottish Borders.

The event was abandoned after the second incident yesterday afternoon.

Officials confirmed two high-speed vehicles had left the narrow tracks at different locations just two hours apart.

The fatalities were pronounced at the scene of the second crash at around 4pm while a fourth spectator was left critically injured.

Police said two men aged 64 and 71, and a 63-year-old woman, all from the Glasgow area, had died when a rally car lost control and left the road at Little Swinton, near Coldstream, at 4pm.

It is thought they were all members of the same family.

The earlier crash at just after 2pm also left one person in serious condition while several others were treated for “unspecified” injuries.

Eyewitnesses described the harrowing scenes as the car came of the single-track road and ploughed into a group of four spectators.

Tony Cowan said: “It was just one car which lost control. It went sideways one way and then to the other side of the road and ploughed into four people.

It was terrible, absolutely terrible. I ran to help but there was little I could do

Tony Cowan

“It was terrible, absolutely terrible. I ran to help but there was little I could do. The air ambulance arrived after about three quarters of an hour.

“There were police cars and ambulances. It was chaos, just chaos.”

Others took to the social media following the crash with one writing: "Huge accident at rally. Not far from us. About 15 emergency vehicles here now and about 40 people stood working on the injured. Not good."

Tommy Tait also went online and wrote: "We must be like cats have nine lives never have we been so close to getting wiped out by a rally car our thoughts go out to the 4 who got hit."

Rachel Wilson left a message on the Jim Clark International Rally Facebook page saying: “It was a huge shock to witness it and thoughts go to the families involved. Praise must go to the speed the emergency services were on the scene and the amount of people helping in such sad circumstances."

Police Scotland cancelled the race after the incident while the organisers confirmed a car had hit roadside spectators and a statement said: “The Jim Clark Rally was stopped on SS16 earlier this afternoon following an incident.

“Police and medical personnel are in attendance at the scene. A further statement will be issued in due course.”SS16 is a section of the rally which takes place in Swinton, Coldstream.

It later emerged there had been an earlier crash about two hours earlier but those behind the event insisted it had been right to allow the rally to continue following the first crash.

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Alan Johnstone, the rally’s media manager, said he had never experienced such a black day in his 40 years in motorsport.

He added Saturday counted among the very worst in his long career but said they had been right not to abandon the race earlier on because cancellations “came with its own problems”.

But Mr Johnstone conceded: “It’s been a disaster really.

“We’ve been doing it [Jim Clark Rally] for 17 years and never had a problem until today. We had two serious incidents today and for that to happen over one day is unbelievable.”

A Police Scotland statement confirmed they were investigating both collisions and added: “A serious incident occurred around 4pm when a rally car came off the road near Kelso and collided with spectators.

“Emergency services attended and three people were pronounced dead at the scene.

“The fourth person was conveyed to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and is in a critical condition.

“The Jim Clark Rally was stopped at that time.

“An earlier incident occurred at 2.05pm, when a rally car collided with five people.

“Four people were treated at the scene and one person was conveyed to hospital where they are in a serious condition.

“Police are in attendance at the scene and the investigation into both collisions is at an early stage.”

First Minister Alex Salmond called the tragedy "desperately sad and difficult news".

He added: "The Jim Clark Rally is a long-standing event of over 40 years. It is much loved in the Borders and by the rally driving community who I know will share in our sadness at what is a black day for the Borders and for Scotland."

Local MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, John Lamont, was shocked at the turn of the events.

The Tory politician added: “This is tragic news for the Borders, and my thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. I know that the Rally organisers place considerable emphasis on the safety of the spectators and drivers but with any event of this nature, there will always be an element of risk.

“I live just a few miles away from the scene of the accident and I know that everyone is shocked and saddened by this dreadful news.”

The rally, on closed roads in the Duns and Kelso area of the Borders, is held every year in honour of the late Formula 1 champion who was born in Fife and died while racing in Hockenheim, Germany, in 1968.

Last year a 50-year-old nursery teacher died when a rally career careered off a forest track at high speed at Highland Car Club Snowman Rally, near Loch Ness, Invernesshire.

Joy Robson, from the Isle of Skye, was killed in the incident while two others suffered minor injures.

The February race was the opening round for the 2013 Scottish Rally Championship and abandoned immediately after the accident.